Fall of the Prophet

A group of pilgrims have arrived at Prophet Rock to witness as the Son of Hulk claims his heritage, the Old Power. However, they have arrived just as Skaar is knocked out of the cave by Hiro-Amin, a Shadow Priest that has been enslaved by Axeman Bone and charged with destroying Skaar. They fear that their would-be savior is dead. Suddenly, from out of the cave comes Princess Omaka and Skaar's other allies riding on an ancient Shadow craft. They warn the pilgrims of the danger posed by Hiro-Amin. When the Oldstrong emerges from Prophet Rock, they try to blow him up with a rocket, but Hiro-Amin easily deflects the blast, downing the ship in the process. Before Hiro-Amin can slay Princess Omaka, Old Sam manages to sneak up being him and place an Obedience Disk on him. They use this to incapacitate their foe.

As Hiro-Amin begins burning out the Obedience Disk, Omaka orders the pilgrims to flee. However, they refuse to leave their savior. By this point, Skaar has recovered from the attack and pushes his way through his worshipers. Breaking free from the Disk, Hiro-Amin vows that nobody should harness the full strength of the Old Power, least of all the Son of Hulk. Skaar forces his way through the stone that Hiro-Amin is unleashing upon him. In his mind, he hears the voice of his mother, Caiera the Oldstrong, telling him that although he did not need her through all his trials and tribulations, he needs her now. Seeing his foe making his way closer, Hiro-Amin suddenly detects the presence of Caiera. Realizing that he is not the savior of Sakaar, as he once thought, Hiro-Amin decides that he should be the Worldbreaker and beigns unleashing the Old Power, which threatens to ruin the planet anew. As the ground beneath him cracks open. Skaar pulls the ruined Shadow ship from the magma and uses a chain attached to it to wrap up Hiro-Amin and suspend him over the lava. Then, he fatally slashes Hiro-Amin, ending the battle.

Seeing the Old Power in use, Princess Omaka questions if giving the Son of Hulk such power would benefit them. Old Sam points out that Hiro-Amin did not undergo the proper training and could not fully control it. He believes that once they recover the stolen technology from the Wildebots, he will be able to train Skaar once he is endowed with the Old Power. Having tasted its power, Skaar is now more determined than ever to obtain the Old Power, saying that all gathered here will help him obtain it.

Recurring Characters

Skaar, Princess Omaka, Old Sam, Hiro-Amin, Yenrang, Kram, Caiera Oldstrong (spirit)

Shadow Tales, Part Four

12 Hours after his battle with the Son of Hulk, Hiro-Amin is still suspended by chain over the battlefield, barely hanging onto life. He is cut down by Hiro-Kala, who has come seeking the Old Power for himself. Even though Hiro-Amin warns the slave child that the Old Power is dangerous, Hiro-Kala insists on obtaining it as he believes someone needs to stop Skaar.

Seeing the boy is seeking a dangerous path, Hiro-Amin has him remove a cybernetic eye from his tunic. From it, Hiro-Kala is shown the story of Koaam, the fourth cousin of Caiera the Oldstrong. He was a simple janitor who cleaned the Temple of Saka, where the Shadow Priests worshiped. He stayed behind when the other priests left for Crown City to meet with their new ruler, the Hulk. However, they, like everyone else in Crown City were destroyed in the massive explosion that damage Sakaar. The Old Power that the priests shared were transferred to Koaam. At first he couldn't control the power, but eventually learned to control it and became a savior to the many refugees in the aftermath of Crown City's destruction. This only lasted until he was later murdered by Axeman Bone.

Ending his story, Hiro-Amin finishes by telling Hiro-Kala that the only way he can get the Old Power is by killing someone who already has it. By this point, Axeman Bone and his men have arrived on the scene and hear this. Axeman finds this very interesting and offers the boy to complete the task. Hiro-Kala takes the axe and slays Hiro-Amin. When the Oldstrong is killed, the Old Power doesn't transfer to Hiro-Kala, but disburses into the air, angering the boy.

Axeman Bone is so impressed by the boy's determination, he breaks Hiro-Kala's slave callar, saying that the boy has earned his freedom and inducts him as a member of the Fillian's honor guard.

Recurring Characters

Hiro-Kala, Hiro-Amin, Axeman Bone, Koaam

Continuity Notes

• The destruction of Crown City was chronicled in Incredible Hulk Vol 2 #105